In the beloved show Brooklyn Nine-Nine, detectives Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero) and Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) start as workplace rivals at Brooklyn’s 99th Precinct before becoming good friends and eventually falling in love, getting married, and having a kid.
The reason viewers loved Jake and Amy so much is because they are a prime example of a healthy, balanced, and loving partnership. It was refreshing to see a couple on a TV series that didn’t need the drama or unhealthy dynamics to be entertaining (looking at you, Ross and Rachel).
Anyway, without further ado, here are four love lessons from Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Amy Santiago and Jake Peralta.
At the beginning of the series, Jake and Amy definitely have their fair share of flaws. Amy is incredibly uptight and a total perfectionist. Meanwhile Jake is her polar opposite–immature and irresponsible.
While Jake and Amy do still have facets of each of these character traits throughout the entire show, after they get together, they balance one another’s quirks out. Amy learns to relax a bit more while Jake becomes (slightly) more responsible and mature.
Amy and Jake are notorious for coming up with insane bets and competitions, even between each other. In fact, that’s actually how their love story started.
In season 1, Jake and Amy had a bet going for who could get the most felony arrests. If Amy won, she would get Jake’s car, a Mustang. If Jake won, Amy would have to go on a date with him.
Jake ends up winning and plans an elaborate, at times obnoxious date for the two to go on together. Jake’s best friend Charles (Jo LoTruglio) points out that all of the jokes and teasing are a sign that Jake likes Amy, which Jake initially denies, but later comes to terms with.
When Jake and Amy officially start dating, their competitive shenanigans continue. The points is that love should be playful and fun too!
Jake and Amy also teach us that communication is the foundation of healthy relationship.
For example, in season 4, Jake has to move to Coral Palms, Florida with Captain Holt (Andre Braugher) as part of the witness protection program after he and Captain Holt play an integral role in dismantling the operation of mobster Jimmy ‘The Butcher’ Fikkus. Amy and Jake are unable to see one another for six months as a result.
When the couple are finally reunited, they have a series of misunderstandings and awkward moments before they are finally able to find their way back to the same page. This showed how important being honest, communicative, and open with your partner is.
Jake and Amy are also each other’s biggest supporters. When Amy had to take the lieutenant’s exam and is beyond stressed, Jake plans a practice exam for his girlfriend to take to prove to her how ready she really is for the exam.
However, Amy disappears after taking the practice test and leaves a note saying she isn’t going to take the real exam later that day. Jake and Rosa (Stephanie Beatriz) go on a wild goose chase looking for Amy as a result.
When they finally find her on the roof of where they had their stakeout in season 1, Amy admits she was afraid rising through the ranks would hurt her relationship with Jake, which she didn’t want to happen because things were so good between them. To which Jake reassures her that he always knew Amy would be his boss and that she can’t be afraid of being successful because she’s “too good for that.”
Your person should always want the best for you and be your biggest supporter, no matter what.
